Summary of Tutorials 4 and 5

These two tutorials looked specifically at the mechanics of using digital technology to shoot, edit and upload a film.

We had a play around with cameras, tripods, story-boarding, shooting at different angles, sequencing, lighting, content, soundtrack and editing. It was a lot of fun, because we approached the task of making the movie with humour.

Here are some definitions from the tutorial material (Sunderland, 2011):

HOW TO BUILD A SEQUENCE

Once you have mastered how to get a good picture you can start to put several shots together to make a sequence.  A SEQUENCE is a series of shots which tell a STORY.  EDITIING the separate shot together creates a natural flow.  Each shot advances the story some how.  By putting together a variety of shots with different angles and different shot sizes, interest and detail are provided.

THE BASIC RULE in shooting a sequence is: After every shot, change the SHOT SIZE and/or the CAMERA ANGLE ie. Change camera position.  If you’ve started with a WS, go in for a MS or CU.  If you’ve started with a CU, cut out to a WS etc.  SEQUENCES will look smooth and professional if you observe this basic rule.

STORYBOARDING

Storyboards go back to the very beginnings of cinema, with Sergei Eisenstein using the technique.  In the world of animation, Walt Disney and his staff developed a storyboard system in 1928.  Disney wanted to achieve full animation and for this he needed to produce an enormous number of drawings.  Managing the thousands of drawings and the progress of the project was nearly impossible, so Disney had his artists pin up their drawings on the studio walls.  This way, progress could be checked, and scenes added and discarded with ease.

For our purposes a storyboard is a series of drawings of the proposed film, as it will appear on screen.  These drawings play an important part in the production of any video or film. It is a plan of the end product and is often referred to during production.

Every scene in your film should be planned very carefully. So that when filming begins everybody knows exactly what is to be done and no time is wasted while the director decides what to do (see attached example) and template.

SCRIPTING

The script is the vehicle by which the thoughts and ideas of the author are transmitted to the audience.  In a novel these ideas are communicated with words.  A film or video that consisted of dialogue only would, however, be very dull entertainment. To reap the full benefit of this audiovisual medium the author should include much more than just dialogue in the script.  The script should be the basis for everything that is both heard and seen on the screen.  A good script should look to include the following the following points.

·         Moods and expressions

·         Facial expressions

·         Vocal expressions

·         Movement

·         Interaction with other characters

·         Special effects

·         Sound track instructions

·         Lighting

·         Camera Angles and types of shot

·         Background sound and setting

·         On screen graphics and titles

The more detail the author includes the closer to his her own intention will be the end product; the script should include enough technical information to enable the director to create the visual and audio picture the author wants

When sitting down to write your script you may wish to consider the following points.

1.    What is the major aim of your film

2.    Is this idea relevant to the audience

3.    Develop your lead character/ subject for documentary

4.    Come up with a set-up.  Some interesting situation or objective.  This will help set out the plot.

5.    Map out a beginning middle and end for your plot.

6.    Include subject movements and major activities

Include in the script any special lighting, sound or camera effects.

BASIC LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS

1. Make sure your main light source is behind the camera.
2. Avoid strong light behind your subject (back light) or they will become a silhouette.
3. If your light source is falling on one side of your subject you may get a harsh shadowy effect.
4. Make sure you have enough light.  Well-lit shots will have more detail and colour (don’t shoot in low light).

EDITING

Each time the record button is turned on and off on a video camera a ‘take’ has been made.  Hundreds and sometimes thousands of ‘takes’ have to be made for a feature film.  Editing of film or videotape is the process of taking out the unwanted and putting into sequence the wanted.  With film this is done physically, with video it is done electronically using two VCRs and an editing desk.  For digital video we have the option of using computer-editing software.

Basic editing principles

·         Don’t labour sequences by making your shots to long, remember shots only need to be long enough to get across the point you are trying to make.

·         If you are putting together an action sequence try to maintain the action by cutting from movement to movement.

·         Try not to jar your shot e.g. don’t make sudden transitions from wide shots to close ups and back if there is no apparent reason for doing so.

·         Use your judgement or the judgement of someone less involved in the process to confirm the flow of your shots.

·         Rules are made to be broken these are just principles, take your time to experiment, this is after all a learning experience.